YouTube Preparing Android App for Kids

YouTube Kids is about to become a thing, as the web video giant is preparing to launch a special new app, designed with the little ones in mind. The app is simply called YouTube Kids and will offer original episodes of TV shows aimed at children.

Videos from child-focused channels on YouTube will also be shown and parents will be able to set timers to stop the kids from watching too long. YouTube Kids will be set apart from the regular YouTube app and it will debut first on smartphones and tablets that run Android. The app adopts a child-friendly design, with big buttons and very little scrolling.

The UI is based on tiles and 4 main sections: Shows, Music, Learning and Explore. You can get content from National Geographic Kids, Thomas & Friends, LeVar Burton’s Reading Rainbow and puppet shows from the Jim Henson Company. YouTube videos aimed at children have grown 200% in year on year viewing time, so that may be a reason for this orientation switch.